Bhamla Stupa in Pakistan, Bamiyan SAARC

Cultural Capital
Indian-History20 hours Ago2 Comments

For Indian History, I recommend

Spectrum- Rajiv Ahir -
1.

Anagarika Dharmapala (1864-1933)

2.

Buddhist Sites in News

3.

1.

Ghantasalas Smiling Buddha Idol

2.

Pakistani Buddhist sites

3.

Bamiyan: SAARC Cultural Capital (2015)

Mock Questions

Anagarika Dharmapala (1864-1933)

He was the founder of Sinhalese Buddhist nationalism, even participated in

Sri Lankan freedom struggle against British Raj.

Revived Buddhism both in India and Sri Lanka.

Restored Buddhist control over Bodh Gaya temple.

Associated with Theosophical society (Ceylon), Maha Bodhi Society (Colombo)

SriLankans revere him as a Bodhisattva.

1893: World Parliament of Religions at Chicago, USA

Swami

Represented what?

Vivkanand

Anagarika Dharmapala

Hindus, India.

On his 150th Birth Anniversary, Sri Lanka issued stam

Southern Buddhism (Theravada Buddhism), Sri Lanka

India reciprocated by issuing Stamp in his honour, in 2

Buddhist Sites in News

Ghantasalas Smiling Buddha Idol

In news

2014, November

Where?

Penneramma mound at Ghantasala village, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh

Age

Between 2-3AD or 6-7AD

Sect

Hinayana Buddhism

Color

Pure White

Material

Dathepalli limestone

Pakistani Buddhist sites

In news

Where?

Age

2014, December

Bhamala mound, near Haro river, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provi

Bhamala is already a UNESCO heritage site.

During excavations in the 1930s, John Marshal claimed this si

But this new discovery proves its far older than that- from 4th

What was discovered?

A Stupa with shape similar to Aztec Pyramids.

Precious coins of Kushana period.

Terracotta sculptures.

SAARC Cultural Capital Bamiyan (2015)

BAMIYAN AFGHANISTAN: SAARCS CULTURAL CAPITAL FOR 2015

Timeline: Cultural capitals of SAARC

2001

Taliban blow up Buddhas two ancient statues in Bamiyan, Afghanistan.

2015

Bamiyan will become SAARC Cultural capital from April 2015 onwards.

2016

Dhaka will become SAARC cultural capital.

Bamiyan: Background theory for MCQs

Bamiyan is the valley between hindu kush and Koh-i-baba mountain ranges.

It is located on ancient silk route, and part of Kushana empire (till 1st century
AD), then under saffarids and Ghazani (in 11th century AD)

Bamiyan was the Capital of Huns in 5th AD and Cultural city of Hazara ethnic
people..

Notable sites at Bamiyan are: Buddha cliffs, caves of monks and shar-igholghola (city of sighs)

Buddhas cliff

Monks caves

Located behind those statu

The worlds earliest oil pai

here.

Taliban used these caves to

There were 3 Buddhas statues engraved in the cliff (6th century

AD)

Style: Gandhar school.

One of them was worlds tallest standing statue of Buddha.

Mock Questions
Q1. Correct statements about Anagarika Dharmapala?

A.

He was a Hinyana Buddhist monk from SriLanka

B.

He was a contemporary of Dadu Dayal.

C.

Both A and B

D.

Neither A nor B

Q2. In 2014, a smiling Buddha idol was excavated at Ghantasala. Find correct
statements about it
1.

Ghantasala is a sacred site in Telangana

2.

This idol belongs to Theravada Buddhism.

3.

This idol is made of Lapis Lazuli imported from Afghanistan.

Correct statements are

a.

Only 1 and 2

b.

Only 2 and 3

c.

Only 1 and 3

d.

None of them

Q3. Correct pairs

A.

Bamiyan: SAARC Cultural capital for 2015

B.

Bhamala: Aztec Pyramid shaped Buddhist stupa.

C.

Both A and B

D.

Neither A nor B

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